Static of Mongolian

 
Country name:  Mongolia  (Local short form: Mongol Ulus, formerly known as Mongolian Peoples Republic and until 1924 was called Outer Mongolia).
 
Capital:  Ulaanbaatar (means Red Hero), population 904,000 people (2006). Situated on the Tuul River. From 1639-1706 was known as Urga or Da Khuree.
 
Size:  604,826 square miles (1,566,00 square km)
 
Area comparison:  Four times the size of U.K., Three times the size of France, or about the size of western Europe. Mongolia is the world’s largest landlocked nation and is the 18th largest country in the world.
 
Location:  Northern Asia, situated between the People’s Republic of China and the Russian Federation.
 
Population:  2.8 million (2006) More than half the population is under age 30.
 
Population Density:  4.7 persons per square mile (1.7 persons per square km) Approximately 65% of Mongolians live in urban centers, 35% are pastoral nomads.
 
Languages:  Khalkh Mongolian (90%), Turkic,                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Russian. Cyrillic script is used in writing.
 
Literacy Rate:  98.4%
 
Religions:  Mahayana Tibetan Buddhism (96%), Shamanism,
 
Government:  Parliamentary Democracy
 
Mongolia has 21 Aimags (provinces) which are divided into 343 Sums (districts) and smaller sub-districts known as Baags.  
 
Climate:   Extreme Continental (large daily and seasonal temperature changes)
Summer averages +68F degrees. Winter averages 13F degrees. Winter season runs from October till April. Annually Mongolia has more than 260 sunny days on average.
 
Average Elevation: More than 5,180 feet (1,580 meters) Average altitude in Mongolia is one mile above sea level.
 
Major Rivers & Lakes: The Orkhon River is the longest river in Mongolia at 698 miles (1124 km). Lake Hovsgol Nuur is Mongolia’s largest lake and holds 2% of the world’s freshwater supply.
 
Terrain:  Desert steppe, Desert plains, Grassy steppe terrain is found in most parts of Eastern Mongolia, Mountainous zone covers 5% of Mongolia’s territory, Mountain forest, Taiga forest region in the north is 5% of Mongolia’s total landmass.
 
The Gobi Desert is the world’s northernmost desert and has a mostly gravel surface with low-lying rocky hills. One of the earth’s great deserts it ranges through most of southern Mongolia and comprises 17% of Mongolia’s total landmass. Annually desertification in the Gobi Desert area is increasing due to overgrazing primarily.
 
Mountain Ranges: Altai Nuruu Mountains ranging northwest to southeast, Khentii Nuruu Mountains in the northeast and Khangai Nuruu Mountains in Central Mongolia.
 
Highest peak:  Khuiten Peak14,350 feet (4374 meters)  in the Altai Tavanbogd Uuul range.
 
Currency:  Tögrög (Tughruk), U.S. $1 = Tg1165  (January, 2007)
 
Main Exports: Copper, Textiles, Cashmere and cashmere products, Fluorspar, Wool, Livestock and livestock products.
 
Public Holidays: New Years Day - January 1st, Tsagaan Tsar (Lunar New Year) Usually early February depending on phases of the moon, International Woman’s Day March 8th, Mothers and Children’s Day - June 1st, Naadam (National Games) July 11th - 13th, Independence Day November 26th.